This and That from Today

While packing Abigail's lunch this morning I realized it was all orange. I think I might start to do it on purpose and pick some days to put together different color lunches. Wont that be fun!



Today we went to Ashlynn's Preschool to meet her teacher and while the kids and teacher got to know each other, the moms and dads went and talked to the director about the ins and outs of preschool. Anyways, on the way out the kids got to take home the fruit loop necklace they made. I noticed that all the kids had an apple with their name written on it (that the kids had written themselves) attached to the necklace, all that is except Ash. So, on the way home I said Ash why don't you have an apple on your necklace and she simply said because she didn't want one. That's my Ash, so completely walking to the beat of her own drum. I did inform her that she should listen and do what Miss Malia asks of her. We'll see. ;o)

So, I promised Abigail homemade cookies after she got home from her first day of school and well I have to admit ... that didn't happen. I know, I know, I feel horrible but my grocery shop took forever and we barley made it home in time to get her. So, I told her today I would for sure have cookies and I did. But, as I was making monster cookies (which I've only made once before) I realized oh these are peanut butter cookies (I'd forgotten that) and well, Abigail doesn't like pb cookies. Can you believe it!? She was sweet and ate them and said they were good but I know she was just being kind to not hurt my feelings, which I appreciate. Some days it just hard to be a great mom.

Today's the day

Abigail started 2nd grade!

We walked to school with the boys
This morning was the first time we met her teacher and saw her class
She got to pick her desk and sat next to 2 of her friends
She was all smiles when I left and all smiles when I picked up her

(side note: last night I asked her if she wanted to stay home with me and I'd home school her and her response, "um, mom, I think my teacher is smarter than you.")

Photo Booth

I saw this for a buck yesterday and had to get it. Hello, I was just at the fair. Perfect.

Once A Year

Do you have a saying that you heard as a kid (which drove you crazy) and now you say it all the time to your kids?

I do.

When the girls say, "that's not fair!"

I say, "life's not fair, the fair only comes around once a year."

Thanks for that one dad. It's so true. And well, since the fair does only come around once a year and because I have such fond memories of it from my childhood, I couldn't wait to take the girls.

It was a great 8+ hours there.


















I'm so proud of Abigail for doing all the big rides with her daddy.
I'm so proud of Ash for finally trying the bigger rides (and of course she loved them!).
I'm so proud of Jason for doing all the rides with his girls and not even feeling like throwing up.
I'm so proud of me for caring around a backpack, camera and little girl most of the day.

Waterproof

With the many trips down to the pool this summer, Melissa and I thought it'd be fun to get some underwater pictures of the kids.

It's been great watching all of them become more comfortable in the water this summer. For example, at the beginning of summer Ash always wore her life jacket in the 'big' pool or stayed in the kiddie pool to play ... now she goes in without her life jacket and is diving down into 3 feet to get rings. I'm so proud of her. And Abigail, well, she's a fish. I'm surprised she doesn't have fins or gills yet.



















The girls love going to the pool, no matter the day, time or temperature
especially if it's with the boys.

A New Year

It was finally
Friday
after 3
and that meant
the class lists were posted!

Abigail's 2nd grade teacher is going to be Ms. Thorpe, and she has a couple of girls in her class that she's known since kindergarten. I think it's going to be a great year. She is very excited to start school, but I on the other hand, am a little anxious. I'm not quite ready for it to all start up again. I've really enjoyed the 'easy' days of summer. But, ready or not, school starts in one week. Even though I'm not ready mentally, we are ready. We've gone school shopping, the first day of school outfit has been picked, all the school supplies are waiting to go and the cute lunch notes I'll pack everyday arrived in the mail.

Now we just need to re-adjust our schedule, which means going to bed a whole lot earlier and waking up a whole lot earlier too.

Have I mentioned that Ashlynn is also starting school, more on that to come.

bits of today

(okay, 'bits of today' has now turned into 'bits of a couple days ago')

Wednesday night Ash went to the boy's house for her very first friend sleepover and Cody came to ours for one.

Originally it was just going to be Ash going over for a sleepover since her and Luke came up with this great idea. I talked to Abigail and told her that she wasn't going to go. Abigail was sad but I explained that she goes and has sleepovers all the time and doesn't take Ash with her so it was okay that she stay home. Abigail then said, "so, is this how Ash feels when I leave." But, no worries, this story has a happy ending. On the way to the boy's house, Abigail said, "I have a great idea, I'll just have Cody come spend the night at our house." What a thinker!

Abigail told Cody that if she was still sleeping when he woke up that he could just hit her with a pillow to wake her. Cody told me he just didn't think he could do that.

He also told me he got up a few time in the middle of the night to check the clock (in my room) for the time.

It was cute listening to Abigail get so excited over the games they were playing on Lego.com. I know Cody was thrilled to be introducing Abigail to one of his favorite sites.



I made pancakes for breakfast. Abigail asked for strawberry jam on hers but then wanted to scrape it off for syrup when she heard that's what Cody wanted.

I could hear Ash playing in the backyard with Luke and Ryan while I was getting ready for the day.

All the kids had a great time, no one wanted the sleepover to end.

We ate mac&cheese and cantaloupe for lunch.

I asked the girls if they wanted to go do something fun today, their answer was, of course, yes. So, I took the girls to see Ramona and Beezus. It was an adorable girl movie! I loved it, we all did!

I couldn't believe my eyes ... the theater didn't have any chocolate. What is that about? No kit kat, no snickers, no m&ms, nada. So disappointing.

Ash dumped her popcorn on the floor, Abigail ate all hers right away and Michayla had some left over that she took home.

It was cute seeing Ash cover eyes every time they kissed in the movie.

On the way home I realized I didn't hand out the starbursts I had in my purse.

We ate our first big tomato from the garden with dinner tonight. Delicious.

My grandparents came to town and found a house they both like and want to put an offer in on it.

Jason called and said his visit went well today. I'm so proud of him, he works hard. I appreciate all he does. I probably don't tell him that enough.

J came home with treats for everyone, I got a kit kat. Again, he's the best!

What another great summer day.

homemade goodness

What was the best part of your day?

Watching the lions paw at your hands
Listening to the lion roar
Feeding Joseph and Julius
Going through the Wallaby Walkabout
Seeing the animals up-close and personal
A picnic lunch in the park
Hanging out with your friends
Going on a boat ride
Meeting Abraham Lincoln
Bringing home a new pet

It depends on who you ask. ;o)
























It was a 'beast' of a day, so much fun!